The Issue
Uganda is hosting over 1.5 million refugees, including over 860,000 children, due to its progressive refugee policy that encourages inclusion and self-reliance. However, these opportunities have not been fully utilized to foster resilience and self-reliance among refugees. 90% of refugees rely heavily on humanitarian food/cash aid, and 91% of refugee households are economically vulnerable. This has put pressure on natural resources and accelerated environmental degradation. Food production and income remain insufficient to meet basic needs. Underfunding has led to increased vulnerability and food insecurity among refugees, leading to harmful coping mechanisms such as reducing meals, borrowing, begging, withdrawing children from school, child labour, and forced marriage.
The Project
To respond to the these challenges, DCA applied an integrated approach to build the capacity and resilience of the refugees and host communities to reduce vulnerability. The transition to agroecology provides multiple benefits, including improved food security, increased income, biodiversity, reduced emissions, increased resilience and productivity, and carbon being absorbed in the soil. All these benefits are especially important for the poorest communities that rely on small-scale agriculture as their main livelihood. The holistic approach was key in promoting agroecology among refugees and host communities in West Nile, Uganda.
The Change
DCA trained agroecology households and their spouses in Yumbe and Terego on best practices of agroecology-based agriculture, including visioning, farm planning, landscape modifications, diversification of species, water and soil management techniques, integrated farming practices, and organic pest control while maintaining old households. The trained households were expected to replicate this knowledge, contributing to food security, income, and resilience.
Two DCA staff were be trained in resilience design and practices to enhance their knowledge and skills, as well as improve quality monitoring.
DCA provided cash support to 50 agroecology households through digital cash transfers. The trained households applied their knowledge on the ground, with continuous technical support provided by farmer coordinators and DCA experts. DCA also helped identify gaps and challenges faced during implementation, covering each household based on identified gaps and budgets.
The Results
- By the end of the project, significant and measurable improvements were recorded in household ecological farming practices among refugees and host communities in West Nile. The project catalysed a strong transition from conventional farming to diversified, climate adaptive agroecological systems. As a direct result, 90% of all supported farmers fully adopted at least three agroecological practices, including permagardens, bioswales, composting, mulching, and diversified cropping.
- The project substantially increased the number of farmers participating in sustainable agriculture. Over the project duration, 20 new agroecology farmers were profiled, 20 new farmers were trained, and 30 existing farmers received refresher training, demonstrating strong capacity strengthening across different levels of agroecology experience. All households reported improved dietary diversity through accessing homegrown foods.
- Financial resilience also improved significantly. Through direct livelihood support, 50 farmers received agroecology cash assistance, enabling them to close resource gaps such as insufficient seeds, lack of tools, and limited biomaterials needed for composting and planting. Additionally, climate-resilient rice farmers reported reduced field flooding and more consistent yields, as a result of integrating bioswales and improved agronomic practices.
- 97 households received training in bee keeping. This positioned households for long-term income stability.
- Water access for production improved considerably through innovation. The project successfully piloted five solar irrigation systems, which are now enhancing dry-season vegetable production and reducing the dependency on unpredictable rainfall.
- The vetting and targeting processes covering 50 farmers were widely recognized as transparent, inclusive, and community-led.
About this project
Title: Agroecology for Sustainable Food Production and Livelihoods Resilience among Refugees and Host Communities in West Nile Uganda.
Period: May 2024 – December 2025
Amount: 150,000 DKK
Outreach: 50 new refugees and host community households as direct beneficiaries (300 individuals as indirect beneficiaries) committed farmers using the household approach while maintaining the 60 old households (50% refugees, 60% women for the project.
Donor: Kirsten Borger Poulsen Foundation